In Memoriam
Mark Crowe

Mark Crowe was a long time member of GAVM. He was the set up man for all our meetings and parties. Mark always arrived early to GAVM meetings to set up the microphone or TV, whatever was needed. Then he would take a seat in the back and read the paper until the meeting started. Mark was always quick with a joke. Which he would ask whoever he was telling it to, rate it from 1 to 10. Sometimes the jokes were a 5 sometimes a 10.

He was a friend and mentor to many laryngectomees in our club. Mark made sure that Tina Long, our treasurer, got to her first IAL convention in 1998 all right, including carrying her luggage and showing her the ropes of the convention. Mark was very involved with GAVM and he served on the Board of Directors of the IAL.

Mark was a self professed motor cycle junkie. He would take long distance rides all the time. Sometimes without a helmet. He got in a terrible motor cycle accident while not wearing a helmet on May 17, 2004. Mark suffered a serious head injury and was in and out of conciousness for weeks. Mark seemed to being doing better and was improving. Then, suddenly on the morning of June 9, 2004 Mark passed away.

His friend ,Tina Long, eloquently described Mark Crowe this way; "Mark was a big man with a heart so expansive it took his big frame to hold it. He was a free spirit who had a love of life and people. Mark fought for his country and for the love of his family. He pitched in and helped whenever he could or he saw something that needed to be done. He definately worked and played well with others."

All of us who were forunate enough to know Mark Crowe will miss him for his jokes, smiling eyes, warm hugs and genoristy of spirit.